The government has announced plans to explore the exportation of Kenyan teachers in other African Countries and abroad for labor.
In a February 22, 2024, statement, the State Department f0r Diaspora Affairs announced that the government was keen on addressing the increasing demand for Kenyan teachers abroad.
“The meeting was centered on formulating a policy and regulatory framework regarding teachers’ labor mobility to address the increasing demand for Kenyan teachers in Africa and abroad,” read part of the statement.
This statement came following a meeting attended by Diaspora Permanent Secretary Roselyn Njogu and a delegation from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC)
Njogu emphasized the importance of the Global Labor Migration Strategy through her department’s 9-point mandate.
She further urged the Teacher’s Commission to work in collaboration with her State Department as TSC aims to cultivate a globally competitive teaching force.
Teachers to join nurses in foreign jobs
The meeting came at a time the state department in collaboration with other state and non-state agencies remains keen on securing job opportunities for Kenyans abroad, including nurses.
Earlier, Njogu together with her Public Health and Professional Standards counterpart Mary Muthoni held a meeting with a delegation from the United Kingdom.
The delegation was led by Eduarda Gray, Deputy Development Director at the British High Commission in Kenya and Dave Howarth, Head of International Health Workforce.
According to the State Department, the meeting revolved around areas of collaborations in the health sectors of both countries including employment opportunities and advancing capacity building for Kenyan nurses.
“This meeting speaks into State Department of Diaspora Affairs’ mandate and commitment to strengthen collaborations with other stakeholders for the benefit of Kenyans in the country and those in the Diaspora,” the statement added.
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President William Ruto has been on the frontline of his government’s initiative on job creation through linking Kenyans with foreign job opportunities.
Ruto on foreign jobs
The Head of State on February 20 put on notice Kenya Kwanza legislators for failing to support the initiative.
This came during his speech at Lake Naivasha Resort where the President, Cabinet and members of both Parliament Houses had converged to take stock of the government’s performance.
According to him, parliamentarians were ignorant for not doing enough to link Kenyans with foreign job opportunities.
The sentiments by Ruto came after it emerged that out of the 2,500 foreign vacancies for Kenyan nurses advertised by the government, only 500 nurses had applied for the positions.
Also Read: UDA MPs Corner Ruto to Explain Existence of Foreign Jobs
In addition, many Senators and Members of Parliament admitted that they were not aware of the opportunities.
“Look here, my friends. It was advertised in the press. I have also talked about it in every meeting. As a leader, if you hear the President saying there are jobs, are not supposed to ask yourself how you shall assist? Are you not supposed to look for the nurses as their representative?” posed Ruto.
Ruto further added that plans were underway to export more laborers abroad.
He identified Germany as an example, where according to him, the government had entered into a pact on job opportunities.
“Several counties need over 1million workers, and we are working on an agreement with the German government for over 250,000 job opportunities by June,” he said.